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Mayor Snack Frog Crochet Pattern

Crochet Mayor Snack Frog from The Big Acorn Race: A Story with Crochet Patterns and Projects

Mayor Snack Frog was the very first fatimal I ever crocheted. What’s a fatimal, you ask? A fatimal is, well, a fat animal. And at Squirrel Picnic, the fatimal clan is a bunch of fun-loving, easygoing, party animals. From their embroidered noses to their tiny little hands and feet, there’s just so much to love about them. They never consider their size to be a disadvantage. They never let anything get them down — they’re too busy having fun.

Of all the fatimals, Mayor Snack Frog could be considered the leader, but the truth is that there’s not really an organization to lead and fatimals aren’t much for being led anyway. In fact, he’s the one who gave himself the title of mayor. No one else seems to mind, so what the hoot. He has friends from all over the world who sometimes stop by to visit. He really does know how to throw a good party.

Mayor Snack Frog Crochet PatternDifficulty rating 1

Finished size without top hat: 6″ tall and 11 1/2″ around at the widest point
Finished size of top hat: 2″ tall and 12″ around the outside of the brim

Materials

(A) 85 yds worsted-weight yarn in green (Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(B) 32 yds worsted-weight yarn in black (Caron Simply Soft in Black, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(C) 5 yds worsted-weight yarn in light green (Caron Simply Soft in Pistachio, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
(D) small amount of worsted-weight yarn in white (Caron Simply Soft in White, 6 oz [170 g] / 315 yds [288 m])
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Size 12 mm safety eyes
Polyester Fiberfill
Tapestry needle

Gauge

5 sts = 1″
5 rows = 1″

Instructions

Mayor Snack Frog Parts by Squirrel Picnic

Eyes (Make 2)

With D, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around, join with slst. (12)

FO. Weave in ends.

Set aside for now.

Eyelids (Make 2)

With A, ch 7.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and ea ch across (BL only is ok), ch 1, turn. (6)

Row 2: Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, slst.

FO, leaving long tail for sewing.

Set aside.

Body

With A, ch 2

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (12)

Rnd 3: * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnds 7-15: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 16: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (42)

Rnd 17: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 18: * 6 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (48)

Rnd 19: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 20: * 7 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (54)

Rnds 21-30: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 31: * 7 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (48)

Rnd 32: * 6 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (42)

Rnd 33: * 5 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnd 34: * 4 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 35: * 3 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Insert safety eyes into the center of the white eyes and attach to head. Sew eyelids to the frog’s head so that it wraps around the white part of the eye.

Stuff frog lightly.

Rnd 36: * 2 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 37: * Sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (12)

Rnd 38: * Sk, sc, rep from * 5 more times. (6)

Join with slst. FO, leaving a tail. Thread tail through remaining sts and pull to close. Weave in end.

Nose and Mouth

Using B, embroider two French knots for the nose and using a back stitch embroider a smile for the mouth.

Using C and back stitch, embroider an M above the nostrils and a line below the mouth to outline a snout.

Belly

With C, ch 2

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. Slst in 1st sc to join. (12)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (18)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (24)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (30)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (36)

FO, leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew to the middle of Mayor Snack Frog’s belly.

Feet and Hands (Make 4)

With A, ch 2.

Rnd 1: 4 sc into 2nd ch from hook. (4)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. (8)

Rnds 3-5: Sc in ea sc around.

Tuck in ends and press flat.

Row 6: Sc this closed with 3 scs (skipping the sts on either end where it is folded). Turn. (3)

Row 7: Ch 2, 2 dc in each of next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 2, slst) in last sc.

FO, leaving a tail for sewing.

With the tail, thread through the 1st of the 3 sc in Row 6. Pull the thread up and over the dcs in Row 7 and back through the same space. Then thread through the 3rd sc in Row 6. Pull the thread up and over the dcs in Row 7 and back through the same space. Weave in to secure, but don’t trim just yet. (You’ll use the rest of the tail to sew the arms and legs to the frog.)

For feet, sew two of these to the bottom of the frog so that the toes stick out from under his belly. For hands, sew two of these to the sides of the frog so that the fingers reach out just in front of his belly.

Mayor Snack Frog's Top Hat by Squirrel PicnicTop Hat

With B, ch 2.

Starting at the flat top of the hat:

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1. (12)

Rnd 3: * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (24)

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (30)

Rnd 6: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (36)

Rnd 7: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (42)

Moving on to the sides of the hat:

Rnd 8: Sc in BL only of ea sc around.

Rnd 9: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 10: * 5 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (36)

Rnd 11: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 12: * 4 sc, dec, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnds 13-15: Sc in ea sc around, join with slst, ch 1.

To create the brim:

Rnd 16: Sc in FL only of ea sc around, slst, ch 1.

Rnd 17: * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (36)

Rnd 18: * 5 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (42)

Rnd 19: * 6 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (48)

Rnd 20: * 7 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times, join with slst, ch 1. (54)

FO, weave in ends.


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Make It! Challenge #8: Zombies in Love

Zombies in Love from Squirrel Picnic

My husband is the best. Since the start of Squirrel Picnic, he’s had to put up with crochet squirrels coming on vacation with us, weekends sacrificed to endless crochet craziness, and a living room that is almost always covered in yarn. He’s also been my best adviser, weighing in on everything from yarn color to construction. He has a very good mechanical mind. For these and so many other reasons, I am very pleased to be able to dedicate Make It! Challenge #8 to him — it’s well deserved and long overdue. And, yes, he advised me on everything for this project, even coming with me to the yarn shop to pick out zombie colors.

As you could probably already guess, for this challenge Shelby asked me to make him a zombie version of myself (a zombie self-portrait if you will). I set my heart on a few details from the start: an exposed brain with a flap of scalp, an eye that could pop out of the socket, and an arm that’s been cut off at the elbow. Of those three details, the eyes were the hardest, and I’m still not thrilled with how bug-eyed my zombie looks. So when I decided to make a zombie version of my husband to accompany the zombie version of me, I chose to simplify the construction of some of the details. Before I knew it, I had two very different patterns. The bodies and appendages are basically the same, but details like the eyes, brain opening, hair, and limbs are more complicated on the girl zombie. Have fun picking and choosing which details you like between the girl and boy zombies to make your zombie uniquely your own.

As a final note, I should mention that this pattern doesn’t include how to make clothing for your zombie. However, at the end of each pattern, I’ve listed links to the free sewing patterns I used to make my zombies’ clothes. Most 16” to 18” doll clothes patterns will fit your zombie, but do a fitting with the pattern before you start. There are a lot of free American Girl Doll clothes patterns online, and from what I could tell, most of them will fit your zombie with minimal tweaking.

As I type this, our zombies look very cute sitting on the couch together and holding hands.

Zombies in Love Crochet Patterns Continue reading →


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Football Jersey for Your Squirrel Friend Crochet Pattern

Squirrel Football JerseysSuper Bowl fever has made its way to Squirrel Picnic, which is after all located just outside of Denver. Hodge is planning a Super Bowl party for next Sunday and requested that I make an Elway jersey for him and a Peyton Manning jersey for Podge (she was torn between #18 and #24 for the longest time because she really thinks Champ Bailey is the cutest, but Hodge talked her into a Manning jersey). And I’m sure you’re not surprised that Eric wanted a Seahawks jersey. Currently no one at the picnic is talking to him, but that’s not much different from how things usually are around here. If he wants to be invited to the Super Bowl party, I think he’s going to have to do something extremely nice for Hodge.

Now you too can make a football jersey for your squirrel friend in time for the Super Bowl!

Note: This is one of those accessories for your squirrel friend that requires a detachable tail. My squirrel pattern includes instructions on how sew buttons to the tail to make it detachable. This way you can take the tail off, slip on your squirrel’s jersey, and reattach the tail to the squirrel’s bottom and head with the buttons.

Football Jersey for Your Squirrel Friend Crochet Pattern

Difficulty rating 2

Materials

(A) Small amount of worsted-weight yarn in your team’s color (for the Broncos use Caron Simply Soft in Pumpkin and for the Seahawks use Caron Simply Soft in Dark Country Blue)
(B) Small amount of worsted-weight yarn in your team’s second color (for the Broncos use Caron Simply Soft in White and for the Seahawks use Caron Simply Soft in Limelight)
C-2 (2.75 mm) crochet hook
Tapestry needle

Gauge

5 sc = 1 inch
5 rows = 1 inch

Instructions

Front:

With A, ch 12.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea ch across, ch 1, turn. (11)

Row 2: Sc in ea sc across, ch 1, turn.

Rows 3-5: Rep row 2.

Beginning divide for neck:

Row 6: Sc in next 5 sc, turn. (5)

Row 7: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (4)

Row 8: Sc in ea sc across, turn.

Row 9: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (3)

Row 10: Sc in ea sc across, turn.

Row 11: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 2 sc. (2)

FO.

Second side of neck:

With RS facing, pull up a loop at the end of Row 5, ch 1.

Row 6: Sc in next 5 sc, turn. (5)

Row 7: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn. (4)

Row 8: Sc in ea sc across, turn.

Row 9: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, ch 1, turn. (3)

Row 10: Sc in ea sc across, turn.

Row 11: Sk 1st sc, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn. (2)

Row 12: Sc in next 2 sc, ch 7, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn.

Back:

Row 13: Sc in next 2 sc, sc 7 into ch-sp, sc in next 2 sc, ch 1, turn. (11)

Rows 14-21: Sc in ea sc across, ch 1, turn.

Row 22: Sc in ea sc across. FO.

Sleeves:

Pull up a loop at the end of Row 6, ch 1 and sc in that st.

Sc in the st at the end of ea row over the next 12 rows, ch 1, turn. (13)

Sc in ea sc across.

FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Repeat on the opposite side.

Finishing:

Using the long tails, sew side and sleeve seams.

Using B, add a sc edging around the neck opening and a slst edge to the sleeves.

Using B, embroider your player’s number.


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4 Ways to Celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day

Squirrel Appreciation Day

How should you celebrate this most momentous of national holidays? Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Play a game of eye spy squirrels. You get a point for every squirrel you spot… the game could go on forever, especially if the squirrels in your neighborhood look pretty much the same.

2. Hang squirrel feeders. A few years ago, we stopped feeding the birds because the squirrels were always eating the food. So then we decided just to feed the squirrels instead and quickly found that the birds like squirrel food too. Everyone was happy!

3. Build a squirrel obstacle course.

4. Take photos of the squirrels in your neighborhood and share them with the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Watch.

Whatever you choose to do, have a great time with your squirrel friends today!


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2014: It’s a Good Plan

A sneak peak at the next Make It! Challenge. What is it? I'm not telling.

A sneak peak at the next Make It! Challenge. What is it?

Last year was an amazing first year for Squirrel Picnic, and I have you all to thank. I hope that I can continue to provide fun and interesting patterns for you and that the gang will have plenty of adventures to go on. To be honest, though, 2013 was draining on both my bank account and my personal life. I fell in love hard with Squirrel Picnic, much to my husband’s chagrin. Every moment that I wasn’t at my full-time job, I was working on the blog. I’ve learned that there’s nothing wrong with being passionate about the activities you love, but time spent with friends and family is very important too. So my big goal for 2014 is to create more balance in my life. That being said, you know me. I’ve already got big plans in the works for Squirrel Picnic… I just might have to work on them under the cover of night (don’t tell my husband). So in addition to that big one I already mentioned, here are my goals for 2014.  

  1. Tackle five Make It! Challenges. Congratulations to this year’s recipients: Shelby, Daniel, Becky, Brooke, and Diana!
  2. Publish more Squirrel Picnic comics: oh, the adventures we have in store!
  3. Publish free crochet patterns for each of the fatimals: starting with Mayor Snack Frog in the next month or so.
  4. Join the Counterfeit Crochet project: this looks like so much fun!
  5. Learn more knitting techniques with the intent of eventually offering more free knitting patterns here.
  6. Publish stories featuring your handiwork! If you’ve crocheted a Squirrel Picnic character using one of my patterns, I’d love to feature it on the blog. For more information, see the submissions section of my About page.
  7. Recuperate some of the costs of maintaining this blog. I spent way too much money on yarn last year… you don’t even know. So I’ve been pondering the financial aspect of blogging lately. I’ve decided not to sell ad space just yet, not until I can have complete control over what companies and products are advertized. (I know you don’t want to see that stupid belly fat ad here, and I won’t let that happen.) But I still need to make enough to support my blogging habit, so the plan is to stock my Etsy shop with squirrelly stuff and try to get some of my patterns published in magazines. I’m not expecting much, but it’s worth a try. Do you have any ideas? If you’re a blogger, what do you do to support your blog?
  8. Show you more of what happens behind the scenes: how I put together the comics, how I create my patterns, and reviews of the fiber arts books and fellow bloggers that have taught and inspired me.



Wow! That seems like a lot. I better get started! What are your goals for 2014?


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New Winter Banner: Snowsquirrels and Snowacorns

Winter 2014 by Squirrel PicnicIt seems like it’s snowing all across the U.S. this weekend, so I thought what better way to pass the time indoors than to crochet some snowsquirrels and snowacorns like those on our new winter banner. Read on to discover how you can make snowsquirrels and snowacorns out of yarn (in case you’re just not in the mood to make them out of snow).

P.S. It’s been brought to my attention that the New Year’s video didn’t show up in the email last Wednesday, which is a shame because it really is rather cute. If you’d like to see how Hodge and Podge and the fatimals rang in 2014, you can view the short film on the website. Sorry about that.

Snowsquirrels

To make snowsquirrels, use this snowman pattern by The Dapper Toad. To make a snowman into a snowsquirrel you’ll need a tail and ears too.

For the tail, make another snowman but replace “Rows 11-13: sc around” with “Rows 11-15: sc around.” Then continue pattern as written. Stuff lightly. As you’re stuffing the tail, rework the shape by flattening the bottom and rounding the top.  Sew the tail to the back of your snowsquirrel.

Make 2 ears from my squirrel pattern and attach to the top of the snowsquirrel’s head.

I also used The Dapper Toad’s pattern for the snowsquirrels’ scarves.

Snowacorn

To make snowacorns, use white worsted-weight yarn and my pattern for acorns.

Hats for Your Squirrel Friends

To make hats for your squirrel friends, follow my pattern for a squirrel head, Rows 1-8. Use a slightly larger hook: size H-8 (5.00 mm) or I-9 (5.50 mm) should do.